Hello cannabis lovers and enquiring minds.
I am back to tell you a little bit about how much I think you should start with when you are new to cannabis. This is a good time to remind y’all that I am NOT a medical professional and this article is for entertainment only. Talk to your doctor before trying any cannabis item if you are concerned about drug interactions and the like.
The theme of the day is go low and slow. Weather you have been away from cannabis for a while or if you are new to it all together, it’s better to start low and not feel anything the first time out then it is to take a 50mg edible after you get it at the shop( I do not recommend doing this).
Cannabis is a very personal experience, it works differently with every person and in my opinion can feel different every time you use it. Unlike other substances, when you have two people who use the same cannabis product it can work differently for each person. That is part of the reason I decided to make the knowledge that I have available to others, it can be intimidating but with a guiding hand it’s nothing to be afraid of.
Methods of consumption and how much to use of each.
Smoking Flower
Joints/Pre-Rolls/Blunts/Spiffs/Bongs/Bubblers/Pipes:
One hit wait a bit before hitting it again sometimes you will find a strain that kicks in and then you are too high too fast.
Infused Flower(Moon Rocks/ Infused Pre-Rolls):
Be careful with these, not recommended for beginners. If you must partake, please make sure you have a friend who can watch out for you. Same as above, take a hit, wait a bit and see if you feel it.
Extracts/Concentrates(Dabs):
These are super concentrated, you need to have the right device to use them either a rig or a dab oil pen(not a vape tobacco or cannabis, these are different) may need to have a mini blow torch lighter to use depending on your set up. These are potent and can knock you out quick if you are not careful. Generally sold in one gram jars or packages depending on the consistency. Start with a little tiny bit, a sliver of shatter or a small piece of oil, think small enough to fit on a ball point pen, that’s about how much you want to start with.
Vape:
When you are using a prefilled vape pen you are essentially dabbing with a net. One three second pull should give you about 2-3mg of THC depending on the potency of the oil. Great for on the go, almost no smell, very discreet. One note not all cartridges are made equal, I will go into that later, be sure to ask questions about additives and thinners.
Edibles:
When you are starting out with edibles you want to make sure that you understand the dosage or potency of the product you have purchased. I recommend that you start out with no more then 2.5mg of THC per dose. If you are worried about taking too much start with less, I do not shame you if you have a super low tolerance for THC/CBD or if it’s what I would consider high and you can take more then 50mg without passing out. Edibles take between 45 minutes to 2 hours to kick in and last up to 8 hours. You want to be sure that you take edibles with a little bit of fat as cannabis needs a little bit of fat to be “activated.” Make sure that you are with someone you know and trust, you can get into a regrettable edible state faster then you would think and you want a friendly face to tell you that you are okay.
Topicals:
Topicals are non intoxicating unless they come into contact with mucus membranes which are the mouth, nose, sex organs, and anus. If you are using a topical lotion, oil or salve to treat pain, apply the substance to the area you want relief in. If you don’t feel anything within 15 minutes or so, reapply and repeat. Studies have shown that they can be helpful for a variety of reasons, more on this in a dedicated post.
One last thing before I leave you for today. If you find you are consistently too high or you feel the negative side effects to an uncomfortable degree, try to mix CBD in with your THC. It can help to mitigate those unpleasant side effects. I have had good results doing so and I have gotten feedback from some of the people I’ve consulted who report the same. Cannabis is fun but it’s not for everyone, some people are allergic to the plant, I have members of my family who cannot use it in any way shape or form, that’s okay. The last thing I want is for someone to feel like they should like cannabis when they don’t. It’s a very intuitive substance.
Happy Smoking!!